Dark in Death – In Death, Book 46, J.D. Robb

As Eve Dallas puzzles over a homicide that seems carefully planned and yet oddly personal, she receives a tip from an unexpected source: an author of police thrillers who recognizes the crime – from the pages of her own book. Dallas doesn’t think it’s coincidence,

Sounds Interesting, until you read the first few pages. Trying to give the sense the story is set in 2061, it falls flat. Only shortening or replacing words (vid for movie, for example) doesn’t create the image for me. Then early in the story J.D. Robb adds a bit of sex between the detective and her husband, in detail. You get the impression it isn’t the only time during the book you will be subjected to their escapes; but, thankfully, it was. It added nothing to the story, so why put it in?

I give this a 2-star rating. It is mediocre at best. I do not recommend this book

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Play Dead – Harlan Coben

Theirs was a marriage made in tabloid heaven, but no sooner had supermodel Laura Ayars and Celtics star David Baskin said “I do” than tragedy struck. While honeymooning on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, David went out for a swim – and never returned. Now widowed and grieving, Laura has a thousand questions and no answers.

This story drew me in from the very first paragraphs. With twists and turns, the suspense builds and builds. It kept me reading well into the night. Did Dave drown? Was he killed? Did he commit suicide? What is the secret the family is hiding?

I give this a 4-star rating. It was very good, I recommend this for leisure reading enjoyment,

Book review ratings always puzzle me. So I have developed a few standards for the 5-star system.

• 1-star: So bad I could not finish
• 2-srar: Finished but did not enjoy. Would not recommend.
• 3-star: It was okay. Might recommend but might not.
• 4-star: It was very good. Would recommend. Would not read again.
• 5-star: It was excellent. Would totally recommend and want to keep on my shelf to read again.

If you do book reviews, how to you choose a rating? Do you have a rating system, written or unwritten?